Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-04-27
and THE GRAND ARMY.

SPRINGFIELD and THE GRAND ahMf.
The fact that Springfield gives whole
hearted welcome to the reorgsnlzed veterans
of the grand union army that saved the rr-
public, finds ample proof and illustration in
the very appearance of the city and IN the
attitude and bearing Of its people. A nobler
set Of men. with grsnder personal records,
never visited Springfield: they compose a
fraternity 20 whose members hardly too
much honor can be paid. Each man - a
o-physically and morally. Each man
Of the thousapds risked his life Ia save his
country. and he and all of his comrades did
more than this-they sacrificed remunera-
tive business pursuits and served their
country, in the field, for a longer or shorter
time, virtually without pay. for the mere
pittance given them by the government was
hardly enough 10 meet their personal eN-
penses.
The union soldiers. however, served vol
UNFAIRLY without hope of other reward than
the approval Of their own conSciences and
the gratitude Of the American people. They
were patriots In the highest sense Of the
word, and risked poverty as well as death
upon the field of battle. But, happily and
fortunately--fo both them and the country
they fell readily and naturally into various
pursuits when the war closed and only those
who were crippled or disabled by disease
were found to be unable TO earn their own
livelihood. and these were generously cared
for. Splendid homes for veterans were
erected by the government, the finest OF
which may be seen at Dayton, Ohio. and a
system of pensions was organized, which
has been expanded from year to year. to
with the needs of the veterans
and the growing financial ability of the
government. Men of both political parties
have united in common effort, in congress
and out of ii. to pay in part the debt Of the
country and the people 10 the heroes who
saved them from overthrow and extinction,
40 that pension legislation has not been
partisan matter, which is as il should have
been, and We have now the spectacle of a
president of the United States, Grover
Cleveland. who was placed in power by the
treachery Of republican mugwumps and the
indiscreet utterance of a republican crank.
and who is now denounced and disowned
BY the rank and Ale Of the democratic party.
who did not elect him). vetoing a bill for
the further relief of these heroic veterans.
after It had been passed by both hou 'eS of
the American congress, one being republi-
can and the other democratic.
The Grand Army of the Republic is a
body and should remain so;
and for this reason il is at full liberty to
express its approval Of the action in behalf
Df disabled veterans by congress composed
Of members of both and all political par
lies, and also its disapproval of the action
,f a small hearted and cold-blooded pres
dent who really belongs to no party and
whom no respectable political organization
will own as its representative.
The people of the country will attend to
his matter in 1855. The man who will be
elected president, next year, whatever may
Ne his political views or connections, will be
man who will not commit the fatal mis-
AXE which has been committed by Grover
Cleveland. The veterans who saved the
country will be tenderly and generously
AIRED for by the country. This utterance
epresents Springfeld's public sentiment.
md knowing this. our visiting veterans will
eei at home while with Us.